Gordon Brown is under pressure to reveal whether Keith Vaz, the influential
head of a Parliamentary Committee, has been offered a peerage or honour in
return for backing the Government's controversial counter-terrorism measures.

Daily Telegraph has seen a private letter sent by chief whip Geoff Hoon to Mr Vaz expressing an expectation that his former ministerial colleague will be "appropriately rewarded" for backing the measure to hold terror suspects for up to 42 days without charge.

Mr Vaz is the Labour chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee. He was previously opposed to the plans but later offered his full backing. He made a major speech during the debate on the proposals which is thought to have won over some backbench MPs. Securing his backing was seen as crucial by the Government.

Amid rumours of a peerage or knighthood, Mr Vaz was asked in Parliament during the debate the day before the vote whether he had been offered an honour for his support. He said: "No, it was certainly not offered—but I do not know; there is still time."

In the handwritten letter sent on 12th June 2008 - the day after the key vote - Mr Hoon writes: "Dear Keith…Just a quick note to thank you for all your help during the period leading up to last Wednesday's vote. I wanted you to know how much I appreciated all your help."

"I trust that it will be appropriately rewarded!...With thanks and best wishes, Geoff."

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David Cameron challenged the Prime Minister over the letter in the House of Commons. He first asked Mr Brown if rewards had been offered to secure backing to which the Prime Minister answered "no".

The Conservative Party leader then asked Mr Brown over the letter published earlier by The Daily Telegraph, saying: "Don't take people for fools. Tell us the truth. What did he [Mr Hoon] mean?''

Mr Brown then insisted: "He was thanking the chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee for doing exactly the right thing."

Mr Hoon looked deeply uncomfortable and blushed as words from his private letter were read out in the Commons by Mr Cameron.

However, Mr Brown's full response to the questioning was interrupted prematurely after a Labour backbencher started asking another question accidentally.

The Prime Minister has been accused of offering rebel backbenchers a series of deals in exchange of their votes but the chief whip's letter may provide the first hard evidence that those supportive of the plans might expect to be rewarded.

Other potential rewards allegedly included British support for a relaxation of the embargo against Cuba and compensation for coal miners.

Mr Brown won the key vote by just nine votes after securing the support of the Democratic Unionist Party. Shadow Home Secretary David Davis resigned and accused the Prime Minister of debasing Parliament in the way the legislation was pushed through.

Mr Davis said: "This is yet further evidence demonstrating the grubby deal-making it took for Gordon Brown to get 42 days through the House of Commons, despite widespread opposition across the political parties."

"It is now incumbent upon Mr Brown to immediately explain precisely what his Chief Whip mean when he said he trusted the Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, Keith Vaz, would be 'appropriately rewarded' for reversing his opposition to 42 days, and voting with the government."